Clothesline prop



April 17, 1956 A. JULY 2,742,253

'CLOTHESLINE PROP Filed Jan. 5, 195a Albert July INVENTOR.

CLOTHESLINE PROP Albert July, Flint, Mich., assignor of one-halt to Hazel M. July, Flint, Mich.

Application January 5, 1953, Serial No. 329,520 A 2 Claims. (Cl. 248-353) 7 the length of the line.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive construction of clothesline prop which shall be very easily and simply constructed of inexpensive material such as plastic, shall have an improved means for quickly and detachably securing the prop to a clothesline at any desired point along the length of the same, and in an highly eflicient manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clothesline prop attachment in conformity with the foregoing objects wherein the engagement between the attachment and ment of a clothesline prop along the line.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment which may be readily adapted to existing clothesline props.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of clothesline showing the novel prop and attachment in place;

Figure 2 is a vertical elevation of the attachment and a portion of the prop;

' Figure 3 is another vertical section, parts being broken away, showing the improved clothesline prop in accordance with the invention being initially applied to a portion of clothesline;

. Figure 4 is aside elevation of the novel prop showing the completely engaged position of the clothesline in dotted lines;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the relationship of parts set forthinFigure 3; e V

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken along line 6-6 of Figure 2 showing'the relationship between the clothesline engaging slots;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the clothesline prop and a modified form of attachment; and

Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken substantially along line 88 of Figure 7.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, it will be seen that the clothesline indicated generally by the numeral 10 is shown engaged by a clothesline prop forming the subject of this invention and indicated generally by the numeral 12.

The prop is formed of two separate elements, namely, the shank 14 and the attachement head 16. The shank has a'lower ground engaging end 16 which may be conveniently flattened as shown, and a tubular upper end por- Patented Apr. 17, 1956 2. tion- 118 received in the recessed end 20 of head 16. A rivet 22, or other suitable fastening means, is provided to secure the head to the shank. The opposite end of the head is bifurcated to present spaced legs 24'having a longitudinal slot 26 therebetween.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 4 and 5, it will be' seen that the spaced distance between the legs 24 is somewhat less than the diameter of clothesline 10 and that each leg is provided with a recess 28 adjacent the point of bifurcation so that the legs may be readily spread apart to receive the clothesline therebetween.

Each leg 24 is provided with a notch or slot 30 extending transversely from one side thereof and it will be apparent that these slots extend toward each other from opposite sides of respective legs. Furthermore, as clearly shown in Figure 6, the slots terminate at 32 in overlapping relationship. Also, it will be seen that when viewed transversely of longitudinal slot 26 as in Figures 4 and 5, the transverse slots 30 present mutuallyconvergent channels 34 so that when the clothesline is placed between the legs, and the prop given a quarter turn the clothesline will be received in channels 34 in oflset relation to the remainder of the line and thereby provide suificient frictional engagement between the line and the attachment head to prevent longitudinal shifting thereof along the line.

In Figure 7, a modified form of attaching head is shown wherein the lower end 36 thereof is provided with a rectangular recess adapted to receive the rectangular shank 38 of a prop. For purposes of securement, the fastening the clothesline is such as to prevent-longitudinal displace- V means 40 is provided in similar fashion to the rivet 22.

In all other respects the attachment head is similar to that previously described.

It will be appreciated that although plastic material is preferred in the construction of both the shank and the attaching head, many other suitable materials may be used 7 merous modification-s and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit theinvention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A clothesline prop characterized by a head which is bifurcated lengthwise to provide a pair of line embracing and friction gripping legs, the latter being resilient and having opposed substantially fiat surfaces normally spaced apart a distance less than the cross-section of said line so that when the line is wedged downwardly between the legs the latter are temporarily tensioned and spread apart, a first keeper notch formed in and extending transversely across one lengthwiseedge portion of one leg, a second keeper notch formed in and extending transversely across an oppositely disposed lengthwise edge portion of the other leg, the inner closed ends of said notches cooperating'communicatively with each other, both notches being (References on following page) 1 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 127,751 Emerson Jan. 11, 1872 973,666 Jones Oct. 25, 1910 Sauer .Q May 26, 1931 

